Method for detecting temporally varying thermomechanical stresses and/or stress gradients over the wall thickness of metal bodies

US9903840B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AREVA GMBH · US

Inventors

• Iris Altpeter · Saarburg, DE
• Ralf Tschuncky · Saarburg, DE
• Hans-Georg Herrmann · Falkensee, DE
• Jochen Kurz · Brunsbüttel, DE
• Gerd Dobmann · Sulzbach/Saar, DE
• Gerhard Hübschen · Saarlouis, DE
• Steffen Bergholz · Erlangen, DE
• Jürgen Friederich Rudolph · Monsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 20, 2014
• Grant date: Feb 27, 2018
• Expiry date: Aug 25, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/2634
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for detecting temporally varying thermomechanical stresses and/or stress gradients over the wall thickness of metal bodies, in particular pipelines. In the method, the temperature on the outer surface of the body is measured in order to determine a temperature progression and stress progression therefrom. In addition, electromagnetic ultrasonic transducers are used at at least one measuring point on the outer surface in order to determine the progression of the stresses and/or stress gradients over time over the wall thickness of the body in conjunction with the result of the temperature measurement. The method allows the fatigue monitoring of pipelines even in the event of rapid stress changes.